What are the factors affecting women's participation in the labour force

Factors affecting women's participation in the labor force include:

• Sociocultural norms: Societal expectations and cultural beliefs often prescribe traditional gender roles and place a greater emphasis on women's domestic responsibilities, leading to limited opportunities for women to enter and remain in the workforce.
• Education and skills: Limited access to quality education and vocational training often hinders women from acquiring the necessary skills and qualifications required for employment.
• Caregiving responsibilities: The burden of unpaid care and domestic work falls disproportionately on women, making it challenging for them to balance their work and caregiving responsibilities.
• Gender-based discrimination: Gender-based pay gaps, limited career progression opportunities, workplace harassment, and bias contribute to the underrepresentation of women in the labor force.
• Caste-based discrimination: In societies with a strong caste system, women from lower caste backgrounds may face multiple forms of discrimination, making it more difficult for them to access education and employment opportunities, as well as to challenge existing power structures and social norms.
• Lack of supportive policies: Insufficient maternity leave, limited access to affordable childcare facilities, and inadequate workplace policies to support work-life balance discourage women from participating in the labor force.

The intersectionality of gender and caste further compounds the challenges faced by women in the labor force. The combined impacts of gender-based discrimination and caste-based marginalization create additional barriers, limiting opportunities, financial independence, and social mobility for women from marginalized caste backgrounds.